Big East Basketball: Ranking the top 20 transfers for the 2024-2025 season
By John Makuch
8. Tarris Reed (UConn)
UConn is ready to make a push for yet another National Championship, but they had to replace the piece they lost down low, Donovan Clingan. While it is not easy to find another 7’2 center who will go at the top of the NBA Draft, building your frontcourt is still doable in this portal cycle. The Huskies pickup of Tarris Reed is exactly what they needed following his departure, and the athletic shot blocker that he is will be much appreciated by this squad.
When you can get a guy that puts up 9.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game, you find a way to add that to a team that lost a piece in that part of the game. For those who thought UConn’s era of the big man was over after Adama Sanogo and Clingan, they just found someone who can add his name to the lineage of big men this program has. Hurley has done a great job in developing players with this skillset and turning them into Big East titans, and he will look to do the same here with Reed.
Hurley’s return meant that UConn was going to go out and get talent in the portal, and they continued to add pieces to their search for another championship. Reed has a great chance to take the next step in this system, especially given who he will have to learn from in Samson Johnson who will play right next to him. The Huskies did a great job in the portal as expected, and it does not stop with just Reed down low.